Hey!So I am probably one of the MANY who bought tickets off ebay and paid MORE than face value.The STARTING BID BEGAN WELL BELOW FACE VALUE, at $20. But you can't help it when the price goes up because people bid so early in the game that prices get ridiculous, ending somewhere around $500-$600.So, My question is:EXACTLY, how much am I at risk of my ticket becoming cancelled because I paid over face value??I have already been scammed out of a few hundred dollars and don't want to lose MORE money because they are going to cancel tickets purchased over face value...EVEN though it's a good ticket and DID NOT come from a scammer. How is the person who sells the ticket supposed to help the bids from going up and up??

Is it fair to cancel a ticket that was ORIGINALLY purchased in the beginning and then sold again because they could'nt go?How is it fair to cancel a ticket even after someone like myself has paid for a real ticket to then be told I can't use it?? What was once good is no good because of up sell and now I would be OUT a couple more hundred dollars...It almost seems like a scam in itself...

I'm not trying to be a jerk, I just want a straight forward answer so I don't prep and buy everything to then be told NO!=/Thanks All!

You bought your ticket and now you take your chances.Which is worse: Being turned around at Gate or having a perfectly good ticket and not using it? You get to answer that question. And I don't think you're likely to get a whole lot of information because most of us don't have it, and those that do are probably not inclinded to share it.IMHO

The Lady with a Lamprey

"The powerful are exploiting people, art and ideas, and this leads to us plebes debating how to best ration ice.Man, no wonder they always win....." Lonesomebri

bpenzarella wrote:Hey!So I am probably one of the MANY who bought tickets off ebay and paid MORE than face value.The STARTING BID BEGAN WELL BELOW FACE VALUE, at $20. But you can't help it when the price goes up because people bid so early in the game that prices get ridiculous, ending somewhere around $500-$600.So, My question is:EXACTLY, how much am I at risk of my ticket becoming cancelled because I paid over face value??I have already been scammed out of a few hundred dollars and don't want to lose MORE money because they are going to cancel tickets purchased over face value...EVEN though it's a good ticket and DID NOT come from a scammer. How is the person who sells the ticket supposed to help the bids from going up and up??

Is it fair to cancel a ticket that was ORIGINALLY purchased in the beginning and then sold again because they could'nt go?How is it fair to cancel a ticket even after someone like myself has paid for a real ticket to then be told I can't use it?? What was once good is no good because of up sell and now I would be OUT a couple more hundred dollars...It almost seems like a scam in itself...

I'm not trying to be a jerk, I just want a straight forward answer so I don't prep and buy everything to then be told NO!=/Thanks All!

bpenzarella wrote:...EVEN though it's a good ticket and DID NOT come from a scammer. How is the person who sells the ticket supposed to help the bids from going up and up??

Is it fair to cancel a ticket that was ORIGINALLY purchased in the beginning and then sold again because they could'nt go?How is it fair to cancel a ticket even after someone like myself has paid for a real ticket to then be told I can't use it??

IMO, the choice to put a ticket on ebay and allowing it to be an open ended auction means the person is intentionally selling the ticket over face value for profit, or in other words an obvious scalper. That same person could have posted the ticket on ebay with a "buy now" price of face value. The person could have placed the ticket on another website at face value or even offered the ticket on eplaya. You are being foolish if you think the seller had no control over the selling price. The ticket was being sold by a scalper and should be cancelled.

However, I understand your strong desire to go to BM may have caused you to irrationally pay more than face value and to feed the scalping system. I sincerely hope that you don't have any problems and can enjoy your burn.

fritz wrote:IMO, the choice to put a ticket on ebay and allowing it to be an open ended auction means the person is intentionally selling the ticket over face value for profit, or in other words an obvious scalper. That same person could have posted the ticket on ebay with a "buy now" price of face value.

This. I just purchased two tickets on ebay moments ago at face value plus the fees, $710 for two tier 2 tickets. Easily controlled ticket price.

You should have bought them on eplaya, there's plenty of them showing up every day. Those ebay guys are chicken shit, claiming to be well intentioned burners who "can't make it this year, last minute blah blah blah" bullshit, put a buy it now tag on it with face plus fees. They thought they were going to skin the hog on this one, but I don't think that they are making out all that well- the bastards.

I have been Power-Seller for 11 years. If I listed a ticket in an "auction format", I know, you know, we all know I am a scalper. If I list it there with a face-value "Buy-It-Now", I am a Burner. I would HAVE TO have a photo of the back showing I am not asking $420 for a level one ticket. I would NOT drive to gate with a ticket I bought in an auction at more than face value, as it takes me thousands of dollars just to GET TO THE GATE. Good luck.....

Dogs are the leaders of the planet. If you see two life forms, one of them’s making a poop, the other one’s carrying it for him, who would you assume is in charge? " I am a controlled substance". Savannah.

Jackass wrote:You should have bought them on eplaya, there's plenty of them showing up every day. Those ebay guys are chicken shit, claiming to be well intentioned burners who "can't make it this year, last minute blah blah blah" bullshit, put a buy it now tag on it with face plus fees. They thought they were going to skin the hog on this one, but I don't think that they are making out all that well- the bastards.

The thing that sucks about this tactic, though is that it punishes the Burner, not the scalper. I realize the intent is to be a deterrent, but a lot of first timers are gonna get their clocked cleaned by this misguided tactic, IMHO while the scalpers laugh all the way to the bank.

LoR

The fox provides for himself, but God provides for the lion - W. Blake (attribution corrected)

To save a trip to the gate and then get turned back for those with secondary market tickets from unknown sources, you might try to meet some burners in your regional with a known good ticket and compare them in detail. Just be sure they are protected from any switcheroo con, by having them record their serial numbers.

If you check on the BM tickets page, under fraud, you'll find a list of canceled tickets. BMORG and Burners Against Scalpers on Fb have been gathering scalper info then BMORG ticketing reviews it. IF tickets are canceled, then you will be screwed. One guy sold several on ebay then got caught and 9 of his were voided and who knows who got some of them. This is why we ask no one buy from a scalper because it hurts the community in more that one way. Don't scalp OR buy from scalpers. I hope you are covered but dude...there is even a round of tickets going out today and ebay prices drop as it gets closer and scalpers just want to unload. Best wishees to you brother and we'll see ya there

Jackass wrote:You should have bought them on eplaya, there's plenty of them showing up every day. Those ebay guys are chicken shit, claiming to be well intentioned burners who "can't make it this year, last minute blah blah blah" bullshit, put a buy it now tag on it with face plus fees. They thought they were going to skin the hog on this one, but I don't think that they are making out all that well- the bastards.

The thing that sucks about this tactic, though is that it punishes the Burner, not the scalper. I realize the intent is to be a deterrent, but a lot of first timers are gonna get their clocked cleaned by this misguided tactic, IMHO while the scalpers laugh all the way to the bank.

LoR

So. What's your alternative? Give them a refund? Let them in?At some point, there is a duty we all have to protect ourselves. I know I don't say this often on this board, but the llc can't be a warm huggy parent to everyone...

The Lady with a Lamprey

"The powerful are exploiting people, art and ideas, and this leads to us plebes debating how to best ration ice.Man, no wonder they always win....." Lonesomebri

Jackass wrote:You should have bought them on eplaya, there's plenty of them showing up every day. Those ebay guys are chicken shit, claiming to be well intentioned burners who "can't make it this year, last minute blah blah blah" bullshit, put a buy it now tag on it with face plus fees. They thought they were going to skin the hog on this one, but I don't think that they are making out all that well- the bastards.

The thing that sucks about this tactic, though is that it punishes the Burner, not the scalper. I realize the intent is to be a deterrent, but a lot of first timers are gonna get their clocked cleaned by this misguided tactic, IMHO while the scalpers laugh all the way to the bank.

LoR

So. What's your alternative? Give them a refund? Let them in?At some point, there is a duty we all have to protect ourselves. I know I don't say this often on this board, but the llc can't be a warm huggy parent to everyone...

Why would the BM LLC refund money to people who bought cancelled ticket(s) from a scalper?? There is an inherent risk that the individual needs to be aware of. Sometimes it works out fine, other times one gets ripped off. If one makes a poor decision they should be responsible for the consequences. Not Burning Man, or anyone else.

Love Rice

Roach: "I feel like in this day and age, every girl should know how to build a flamethrower."

Agree 100%.The org has the right to act in the best interest of our community.Yes, someone could buy a scalped ticket that was voided by the BORG. Just as in past years there were counterfeit tickets and the buyer would be in the same position.

I think the BORG have made it pretty clear that there are risks buying from 3rd parties and more risk from buying scalped tickets.

Jackass wrote:You should have bought them on eplaya, there's plenty of them showing up every day. Those ebay guys are chicken shit, claiming to be well intentioned burners who "can't make it this year, last minute blah blah blah" bullshit, put a buy it now tag on it with face plus fees. They thought they were going to skin the hog on this one, but I don't think that they are making out all that well- the bastards.

The thing that sucks about this tactic, though is that it punishes the Burner, not the scalper. I realize the intent is to be a deterrent, but a lot of first timers are gonna get their clocked cleaned by this misguided tactic, IMHO while the scalpers laugh all the way to the bank.

LoR

Actually if done correctly and the buyer paid with PayPal and Visa and NOT through bank account, then they have a claim against the scalper that they were sold fraudulent tickets and have their money refunded. The scalper will then have repercussions over their ebay status. The scalper loses one of his selling outlets, hopefully the burned get their cash back and JUST had to turn around. I think that how it works...

"All the worlds indeed a stage and we are merely players, performers and portrayers. Each another's audience inside the gilded cage." - N. Peart"SAFETY THIRD" - Some idiot